Lynton.G.Barr P.O.Box 23 Swan Reach 3903 Victoria Phone 03 5156 4674 Email- [email protected] Around the Jetties May 2016 Issue 102 An Anglers Newsletter “The finest gift you can give to any fisherman is to put a good fish back, and who knows if the fish you caught isn‟t someone else‟s gift to you.” Lee Wulff Fishing Author and Fly Fisherman Final Edition Editorial It is with great sadness I announce that this issue will be the final issue of Around the Jetties following ten years of publishing this angler newsletter. In that time 104 issues were produced that averaged over ten pages per issue, with ten issues per year, so if you had received all issues you would have received around 1000 pages of fishing news over the past decade. Prior to commencing Around the Jetties I wrote a two page fishing section in the Feathers and Fur magazine for a decade, so in the last twenty years I have had busy time writing on fishing. This decision to end publication of Around the Jetties has been forced on me due to a major health problem that I am currently facing and have had for two years. I would like to take the opportunity of thanking all those anglers who have contributed to this publication, and in particular the information willingly provided by Fisheries Victoria Managers and staff for publication. Thanks also to the Executive Directors. From eight or so original readers the number of readers today is over 1000. 1 An Anglers Reassessment of Trout Regulations I have received a fascinating assessment of current trout fishing regulations and suggested changes to regulations across the state that could have a major positive impact on trout fishing .This was in a paper written by Trevor Hawkins, a Field editor and illustrator for AFN publishing. Trevor has had over forty years‟ experience with fly fishing and angling generally. This article was published in the Freshwater Fishing magazine Issue 139 and Trevor who is a reader of Around the Jetties has given permission for his paper to be quoted in Around the Jetties. Because the paper on trout is a substantial document covering most of the states trout waters, I have had to be selective and rather than using limited quotes I have précised this wide ranging paper. This paper raises many issues for trout anglers to consider Excerpts from the Paper Background “Trevor Hawkins suggests that to get our once fabulous trout fishing back on track and thriving again may take some lateral thinking from both trout anglers and fisheries managers. He says “from my personal experience I‟ve seen the dedication and effort by the freshwater division of fisheries who are implementing the government‟s commitment to Target One Million. Its worth pointing out that the people at fisheries are themselves passionate freshwater anglers and that‟s fantastic. We have a proactive government while on top of that, we have a dedicated freshwater fisheries division. All we need now is for licensed trout anglers to stand up, be counted, and say what we want from our trout fisheries over the short and long term What went Wrong The perfect storm of prolonged drought that finally broke some six years ago followed by a short period of boom, where trout numbers and sizes were fantastic and of course that sudden breaking of prolonged drought also saw a huge increase in pelicans and large black cormorants descending on many lakes where young trout had not long before been liberated….I watched a very large mob of pelicans feeding in one small area of the Mitchell River at Bairnsdale for over a week solid feeding on small bream or bass I presume. In that same season I saw for the first time numbers of black cormorants working the Upper Mitta River in both the pools and something I had never seen before, in the fast white- water, I also encountered large numbers up on the Eucumbene River above Kiandra where I‟d never seen them before in all my years of fishing. Since that period of drought breaking rains we also moved into a number of years where the temperatures in those prime trout areas of the northeast east of the state have been consistently higher than normal, and that‟s resulted in a few years of the worst trout fishing I have personally experienced and I know I‟m not alone with that. Some Personal Suggestions Size Limit The first thing that should be done is the reintroduction of a minimum size limit across the whole state. This would immediately show anglers that trout are seen as a valuable fish worthy of protection. I‟d personally like to see 250mm as a minimum size but 22mm is probably more acceptable. Fisheries shouldn‟t wait around on this in my opinion…make a decision one way or another and introduce a minimum size in time for the 2016-2017 trout season. Bag Limits There is no justification for maintaining a bag limit of five trout across the board in Victoria especially on many fragile streams where variable natural recruitment is relied on to maintain a worthwhile fishery. It‟s time 2 to recognise that most anglers see trout as a true sportfish and not a resource to be harvested in large numbers for food. Premier Waters I think there is a case to be made to break some rivers and lakes into two or three groups One f these to be Catch and release streams with all fish released back into the stream. Suggested examples of this to include The Upper Mitta River, the Bundara River and the Delatite River upstream of Merrijig as some examples of Premier streams.(Other suggested Premier Streams include Upstream Rubicon River, Ovens River, Murrindindi River) 2 Fish Bag limit All rivers other than the catch and release sections should have the bag limit reduced to 2 fish which would offer a more modern approach to a sportfish that needs protecting. 5 Fish Bag Limits The only exception to the 2 fish bag limit on rivers could be The Goulbourn River below the Eildon Pondage and the Mitta below Dartmouth dam. Both these sections should have supplementary stocking. Slot Limits I would limit the bag to having only one keeper above 350mm in all rivers that are not catch and release. Stocking Rivers. “Hard fished rivers” should be stocked along with angler catch research. to see if catch rates can be lifted. Rivers that would benefit from stocking include the Yarra River, Howqua River, Jamieson River, and Upper Goulbourn River. This would add to wild fish replenishment and support weekend and visiting anglers. Stocking Lakes Our lakes can be managed very intensely with stocking. We should however concentrate on the best lakes to make standout fisheries rather than stocking numerous average waters. Stop stocking Pyke‟s Creek Reservoir with trout and instead establish a yellow- belly water close to growing population or Lake Bellfield and establish a instead unique bass fishery at the same time improving the trout fishing at Lake Fyans and Wartook that are proven trout waters.. Don‟t stock trout into Rocklands but introduce yellow belly. Drop a lot of the small lakes from around Ballarat off the stocking list, and put the stocked trout into Andersons Lagoon and Newlyn where angler numbers are far greater. Concentrate on creating a few premier lakes such as Lakes Bullen Merri, Lake Purrumbete, Lake Toolondo, Lake Fyans etc. Stock Tullaroop Reservoir as this is a lake with great potential. Stock Eildon Pondage with more trout and possibly exotic salmonids to further develop this year round family fishery Bag Limits for Lakes I‟d leave lake bag limits as they currently are except for Toolondo and Hepburn where I‟d reduce them to two fish only, with a minimum size limit to encourage trophy trout captures. Conclusion I make no apologies for giving my views because like most trouties I am passionate about our fishery. I would add its about time trout anglers started to put their hands up and apply for some of the recreational Fishing Licence grant money, and this is because trout groups are simply not applying for funding. We all know that maintaining a good trout fishery depends on the quality of stream habitat. Clubs and groups should be coming up with trout stream habitat proposals, and letting the Fisheries Managers know what you want and when.” Editor To read the entire Trevor Hawkins paper, go to Freshwater Fishing Magazine Issue 139. Perhaps angling clubs should be looking at this paper and discussing the suggestions made and above all providing feedback to the Freshwater Division of Fisheries Victoria. As the Hawkins paper suggests, trout anglers have an important part to play. This paper adds to the discussion of the state of trout fishing that was initiated at the Talk Wild Trout Mansfield Conference of the 21st November 2015. It should also be noted that Fisheries Victoria, is carrying out research with nine projects, and part of this is improved engagement with fishers. This paper should be read in conjunction with the Conference Proceedings of the Mansfield Conference, which I believe is one of the best studies undertaken on this subject. 3 „The angler forgets most of the fish he catches, but he does not forget the streams, and lakes in which they are caught.” Charles K, Fox Victoria has Nine New Fisheries Officers. The appointment of nine newly trained Fisheries Officers across the state will bring the team looking after fish stocks up to full strength.